Individuals who wish to immigrate to Spain from Canada face a relatively simple process and first need to comply with the visa requirements. There are two distinct options available: residing in Spain for long-term work or study purposes, or staying in the country based on a non-lucrative visa. The visa application for Spain is submitted at an embassy or a consulate general in Canada, and the process is subject to a set of conditions.
If you want to immigrate to Spain from Canada, you can count on our lawyers.
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Visa options when immigrating to Spain from Canada
Canadian nationals willing to move to Spain have several options for legally residing in the country for a period of time, after which they can apply for residency in Spain.
- the non-lucrative residence visa: suitable for Canadians who are looking to stay in Spain long-term and have the financial means to sustain themselves;
- working in Spain: residing in Spain long-term is possible through an employment contract that is renewed accordingly (at the same time the foreign employee also renews the residence permit);
- studying in Spain: students who are admitted to study in Spain can stay in the country long-term, provided that they follow the regulations for holding a valid residence permit and renewing it as needed.
Two other options for obtaining temporary residency in Spain for Canadians concern investments, namely those for capital investors and those for entrepreneurs and those involved in business activities. Opening a business in Spain is an easy process and Canadian investors have the same rights as EU or local entrepreneurs. You can discuss more of these options and the conditions that apply to the business investment with one of our immigration lawyers in Spain.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa requirements for Canadian nationals | Canadian citizens can enter Spain based on e-visas and valid passports. |
|
Special conditions applicable (YES/NO) |
No, there are no special requirements to meet by Canadians immigrating to Spain. |
|
Relocation options |
Temporary and permanent residence visas are available. |
| Temporary residence options |
– work visas, – non-lucrative visas, – student visas, – family reunion permits. |
| Direct permanent residence options (if any) |
Permanent residency can be obtained through regular residence only. |
| Employment visas under which Canadian citizens can move to Spain |
Regular work visas and intra-company transfer visas are available. |
| Access to digital nomad visa (YES/NO) |
Yes, Spain has a dedicated visa for digital nomads that can be accessed by Canadian citizens. |
| Living requirements for obtaining permanent residency in Spain |
5 years. |
| Availability of specific family reunification visas (YES/NO) |
Yes, it is available for non-EU citizens and, therefore very suitable for Canadian citizens seeking to immigrate to Spain. |
| Investment visa availability (YES/NO) | No, such a visa is no longer available, however, there is an alternative to this it, the non-lucrative visa. |
| Special immigration programs for Canadian citizens |
Yes, the Youth Mobility Scheme. |
| Citizenship requirements |
Living in Spain for 10 years through naturalization. |
| Dual nationality permitted (YES/NO) |
Spain does not allow dual citizenship when it is obtained through naturalization. |
| Spain-Canada double tax treaty (YES/NO) |
Yes, since 1976. |
| Support in moving to Spain from Canada (YES/NO) | Yes, you can rely on our immigration lawyers if you want to relocate to Spain from Canada. |
Canadians who have been temporary residents in Spain for five uninterrupted years can apply for long-term residence. Once permanent residency is obtained, the individual will be able to remain in the country indefinitely and no uninterrupted stays restrictions will apply.
One of our Spain immigration specialists can give you more information on the conditions for uninterrupted stays in the country, for example, the conditions in which the leave is not considered an interruption, such as in the case of holidays or other applicable reasons. We can also assist you if you want to immigrate to Spain from Canada and apply for citizenship.
Whether it is for work or study purposes or simply because they wish to live in a more Mediterranean climate, Canadians interested in emigrating to Spain can reach out to the professional services provided by our team of immigration lawyers. We can also provide the necessary support in applying for a residence permit in Spain.
Documents to prepare when moving to Spain from Canada
Canadian citizens who relocate to Spain must prepare various documents. Generally speaking, these depend on the reason for immigration, however, they are not difficult to compile.
Here is what you should know if you plan to immigrate to Spain from Canada from a paperwork point of view:
- you need to have a valid passport;
- you will also need a lease agreement as proof of living arrangements;
- evidence supporting your reason for relocation is also required;
- a bank statement indicating you have sufficient money to support your stay in the country is also required.
In terms of financial requirements, it is worth noting that the minimum amount required depends on the reason for which you move to Spain from Canada. For example, there are important differences between those who apply for a Spanish nomad visa compared to those who immigrate based on a non-lucrative visa.
You can rely on our immigration lawyers in Spain for updated information on the official financial requirements to meet when moving here. Additionally, you can also ask for other recommendations, depending on the duration of your stay.
Here is also an infographic on this subject:
Relocate to Spain from Canada as an employee
Employment relocation to Spain can take several forms, such as:
- classic employment, where as a Canadian you can find a job, then obtain a work permit for Spain;
- intra-company transfer, where a Canadian company can transfer you to a branch or subsidiary in Spain, subject to specific conditions;
- move to Spain from Canada if you have worked in the EU before and you have an EU Blue Card.
If you are a self-employed person, the digital nomad visa for Spain is also an alternative for you. However, in this case, you must know that there are specific conditions to meet, among which are minimum income requirements and certain limitations on the work you can complete.
The main benefit you can obtain if you immigrate to Spain from Canada based on employment is that you will also secure a Spanish residence permit alongside the work visa.
Our immigration lawyers in Spain also have competence in employment regulations, so that you benefit from extensive support if you decide on this relocation method.
Special immigration programs between Spain and Canada
Spain and Canada have good cooperation in several areas, which is why they have the Youth Mobility Scheme. This is a working holiday program available for citizens of both countries. To enroll in it, the following conditions must be respected:
- applicants must have graduated post-secondary schools;
- candidates must seek additional training or education through an employment respectively internship contract;
- applicants can also work in Spain for a limited time if they come here during their school vacations;
- Canadian citizens can also come to Spain for voluntary work.
If you decide to move to Canada from Spain under this scheme, you can be eligible if:
- you are between 18 and 35 years old;
- you have a round flight ticket to demonstrate you will remain in Spain for the duration of the program;
- you have sufficient financial resources to sustain your stay here (around EUR 2,000 per month);
- secure a health insurance.
If you are interested in this option, feel free to make the necessary arrangements for filing with our Spanish immigration lawyer.
Steps after moving to Spain
Once they have applied for and obtained their visa, Canadians can travel to Spain. Once in the country, they are required to register for social security purposes and apply for a foreign identity card. The foreigner’s identification number is required for all foreigners who come to Spain for business, professional or personal reasons and it is a unique number used to identify the foreign citizen.
The application for the foreigner’s identity number (or N.I.E.) is submitted to the Consular Post in the region where the applicant resides. The application form will include the details of the foreign applicant as well as other details.
Canadians who relocate to Spain and live here for ten years can apply for Spanish citizenship. When a Canadian national has been married to a Spanish national for one year, the period for application will be reduced.
Would you like to apply for a residence permit in Spain so you can live and work here if you currently reside outside the European Union? Then you might find a solution under the Spanish law. The Golden Visa, for example, was established to entice investors from outside the European Union. You can learn more from our specialists on how to apply for this visa.
Access to permanent residency in Spain
If you aim to obtain a permanent residence permit in Spain, you should know that the minimum living period is 5 years. However, there are also special categories of immigrants who can obtain the status of permanent resident sooner. Among them, we mention the following:
- self-employed persons and employees who have lived in Spain for more than 3 years and have reached the retirement age;
- self-employed people who want to retire earlier, as long as they have worked in Spain in the last 12 months and have lived here more than 3 years;
- workers and self-employed people who have lived in Spain for more than 2 years and have been permanently incapacitated to complete any work;
- people who worked or have been self-employed in Spain for at least 3 years, have moved to other EU states and continued their activities there while maintaining their Spanish residency.
They can apply for residency after the 2, respectively 3-year periods.
In the case of Spanish citizenship, no living exceptions apply to Canadian citizens. They must live here for 10 years based on permanent residence permits. It is also worth noting that this country does not allow for dual citizenship in the case of Canadians.
No matter the way you decide to relocate, our lawyers can help you respect Spain’s immigration regulations.
Obtaining Spanish citizenship as a Canadian
There are several ways to obtain citizenship in Spain as a Canadian. The simplest one is descent, however, if you do not have Spanish ancestors, you can also obtain it through:
- naturalization;
- marriage.
The minimum living requirement for citizenship by naturalization is 10 years. In the case of marriage, it must pass at least one year from the registration of the marriage to enable you to apply for citizenship.
Here is also a video on this topic:
Services offered by our immigration lawyers in Spain
Moving to a new country is an important decision and having personalized legal aid can have a tremendous impact on how the process runs, how quickly the visa is obtained, and, in general, on the accommodation period. Working with our Spain immigration lawyers allows visa applicants from Canada to better understand the requirements set forth by the Ministry of the Interior and other governmental bodies, especially with respect to employment, social security of health insurance requirements.
We can help you prepare the documents for the visa application and will provide applicants with a complete list of the needed documents as well as offer permanent counseling on the process, as soon as you begin the visa application in Canada. For those who wish to become employed in Spain, we can help with communication with the employer, perform due diligence on the employment contract, and even assist with the preliminary housing arrangements. We are able to provide full relocation services, with a focus on the legal aspects related to immigration to Spain.
Depending on your needs, we could help you apply for the proper kind of Spanish resident permit. Then, in order to aid the foreign national’s integration into this country, we also provide extra services. We can assist with finding suitable housing, registering with the local authorities, and renewing one’s stay documents.
Contact us for more details on how to immigrate to Spain from Canada.